Radiant heating for buildings



June 24, 1947.

G. F. KECK RADIANT HEATING FOR BUILDINGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March27, 1944 INVENTOR.

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" 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Filed March-27, 1944 INVENT OR. Qeoqge Fliach June24, 1947. G. F. KECK RADIANT HEATING FOR BUILDINGS Filed March 27, 19445 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTCR. Geo :96 F/[ec/L, Wm *aw ATTORNEY 5 Maw 'June24, 1947. G. F. KECK RADIANT HEATING FOR BUILDINdS Filed March 27,1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYfi Patented June 24, 1947 2,422,685 RADIANT HEATING FORBUILDINGS George F. Keck, Chicago, 111., assignor to Clay ProductsAssociation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March27, 1944, Serial No. 528,384

7 1 This invention has to do with radiant heating for buildings, and isparticularly concerned with the construction and arrangement of thevarious ducts and headers employed in handling the circulation of theheated air or other fluid.

One of the principal objects of the invention.

is to provide, in a radiant heating system, a hollow tile floorstructure through which the hot air is circulated in a novel and highlyadvanta-' a full understanding of the new radiant heating layout and theconstruction and arrangement of the several special tile units enteringinto the same.

While the invention is described herein as applied particularly toheating, it is equally appli- 12 Claims. (Cl. 237-69) '7 is afragmentary horizontal section through the lower right-hand corner ofthe floor structure shown in Fig. 1, taken through the centers 01. thetiles employed in forming the return header, showing the constructionand arrangement involved in changing the direction of theheader;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through one of the tiles of the returnheader, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side view of the tile shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section through the floor structure, taken onthe line l0lll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an intermediate portion of the floorstructure, taken approximately on the line llll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of an intermediate portion of the floorstructure, showing two of the tiles separated to expose the bridgemembers which are inserted in the aligned ends of the ducts in the tileswhen the latter are brought together;

cable to cooling, and the various references made herein to heating aretherefore to be construed as. meaning broadly a conditioning of the airor other fluid, whether such conditioning involve heating or cooling.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is presented herein by way ofexemplification, but

it will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art that theinvention is susceptible of incorporation in various other structurallymodified forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view oi a hollow tile floor structure constructed inaccordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an intermediate portion of the floorstructure, taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the-individual tiles used in forming thefinished surface of the field of the floor structure;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the same tile;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a marginal portion of the floorstructure shown in Fig. 1, taken approximately on the line 5-5 of'Fig.1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another marginal portion, takenapproximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

1 shown in Fig. 16.

I Fig. 13 is a section through the joint between the ends of two of thefield forming tiles, showing one of the bridge members in position;

Fig. 14 is a side view of one of the bridge members;

Fig. 15 is an end view of the bridge member shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a side view of one of the bridge members used between theends of two of the header forming tiles; and

Fig. 17 is an end view of the bridge member The floor structure shown inthe drawings is composed throughout practically its entire expanse of alarge number of hollow fiat-topped tiles l0 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4) whichtiles are arranged in regular rows like ordinary floor surfacing tiles.The tiles III are individually supported on a rigid sub-base ll ofsuitable material, and are set flush with each other on a relativelythin layer I2 of suitable bedding material. The edges of the tiles areseparated slightly from each other and the spaces between such edges arefilled in and pointed up with strip-like sections l3 of suitablejointing material, which .material may be the same as the material usedforces the top I 4 and divides the hollow interior into two open-endedpassages [9 for directing the hot air used in the system. The undersurface of the top It is arched at 20 between the sides It and thepartition l8, whereby to afford maximum load-supporting strength withminimum thickness over the passages IS. The outer surfaces of the sidesI6 are recessed at 2| between their upper and lower edges, 'whereby'toprovide keying spaces of substantial size between the opposed sides ofadjacent tiles for the reception of the jointing material while stillpermitting the tiles to be brought fairlyclose together.

In applying the present system to the floor of a building in whichseveral rooms are. to be located on the same floor-a in the ordinarydwelling-the tiles It can be arranged advantageously in a number ofseparate groups, as for example the three rectangular groups includedwithin the areas indicated respectively by the crossed arrows A, B and Cin Fig. 1. Each of these group can be individually supplied with thehot. air used in heating the tiles I0, thus enabling the temperature ofthe floor in any Particular area to be controlled easily in accordancewith requirements and independently of the proximity or remoteness ofsuch area from the source of the hot air. V

Referring to the intermediate group B--the tiles III in that group arepositioned in a number of transverse rows, with the passages M in thetiles in each row all extending in the same direction as the transverserows in endwise communication with each other. The hot air used inheating the tops M of the tiles in group B is fed under pressure froma-heater H or other suitable source up through a flue F into a supplyconduit S. The conduit 8' extends horizontally at right angles to therows oftiles in group B and opens laterally after the fashion ofa-header into each of the passages IS in the tiles in that group.

The supply conduit S is composed of a single row of open-ended tiles 22(see Figs. and 10) which have tops 23 of the same shape and size as thetiles ill. The tiles 22 are of greater dept strength. The tiles 22 areset in the bedding layer H2 in the same manner as the tiles ID, withtheir tops 23 flush with the tops H of the tiles i0, and with each ofthe tiles 22 in lateral alignment with one of the row of the tiles It,thus presenting a finished tile floor surface of the same regular tilepattern throughout;

After the air supplied by the conduit S to the tiles in in group B hastraveled the lengths of the passages I9 in the tiles it it enters areturn conduit R and flow through the same back to the air intake of thefurnace F.

' The return conduit R, like'the supply conduit S, extends horizontallyat right angles to the rows of tiles in group B and is composed of asingle row 01 open-ended tfles 21 (see Figs. 6, 8 and 9) having tops 28of the same size and shape as the tiles it, with main header passages 29and side distributor passages or openings 30, the latter being disposedin communication with the passages 89 in the tiles III. The tiles 21 areset into the floor in the same manner as the tiles I0,

- gether,inverted channel members 32 of thin sheet metal or othersuitable material are telescoped into the confronting ends of thepassages H (see Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive), whereby to render suchpassages continuous throughout each row of tiles and prevent entry ofthe jointing material into the passages. The members 22 are providedintermediate their ends with out-turned positioning tongues 33 whichlimit the extent of insertion of the members into the ends of thepassages. Similarly functioning bridge members 34 are inserted withinthe ends of the passages in the rows of tiles forming the supply andreturn headers (see Figs. 10, 16 and 1'7), and also in the side openingin those tiles.

The tiles forming groups A and C are laid out in the same general Way asthe tiles forming group B.

The tiles III of group A are positioned in a number of transverse rows,with the passages K9 in the tiles in each row all extending in the sametransverse direction in endwise communication with each other. The hotair used in heating the tops it of the tiles III in group A is fed underpressure from the heater H- up through a flue F into a supply conduit SThe conduit S extends horizontally at right angles to the rows of tilesin in group A and opens laterally into each of the passages in the tilesin that group. The

conduit S like the conduit S, is composed of a single row of the tiles22. The hot air which is fed into the tile ill of group A is dischargedfrom the same into a return conduit R The conduit R like the conduit R,is composed of a single row of the tiles 2! and empties into the conduitR. I

The tiles ID of group C are similarly fed with hot air from a supplyconduit 8, the hot air upon leaving the tiles l0 discharging into areturn conduit R The return conduit R is connected in series with thetwo other return conduits. It makes a right angular turn at 35 at thefar end of group C; passes the closed end 36 of the supply conduit 8*;makes another right angular turn at 31; and returns alongside the supplyconduit S at 38 to an intake flue I leading back into the heater H.

In the various supply and return conduits those tiles of the conduitswhich are perforated laterally for communication with the passages 19 inthe tiles l0 are marked withthe letter P (see Fig. 1) in order todistinguish them from the unperforated tiles in other stretches of theconduits. Certain of the individual tiles constituting the system hereinclaimed, as well as further special tiles and arrangements of tiles fora similar system in general accordance with the invention, are thesubject matter of a continuing copending application, Serial No.746,601, filed May 7, 1947, and entitled Radiant heating system andcomponents thereof.

Where the conduits S, S and R traverse section A of the floor structuresuch conduits pass under the field tiles it of that'section withoutinterfering in any way with the circulation through such field tiles,the necessary vertical jogging being effected in each conduit throughthe introduction of a special conduit tile 39 (see Fig. 10) having avertical dimension equal to the combined vertical dimensions of thetiles it and 22.

diminishment in the flow through the conduit in v turning the corner.

The usual utilities-such as pipes and wiresmay be advantageously placedin one or more marginal conduits U (see Figs. and 6) formed betweenupwardly opening channel members 4| and fiat cover tiles 42 arrangedflush with the upper surface of the fioor structure. The tiles 42, whichcan be removed without difiiculty at any point to give access to theutilities, can be jointed in line with the joints between the variousother tiles whereby to present if desired an uninterrupted tile patternover the entire floor area.-

It will be noted that the invention affords a plurality of groups orsections of floor surface A, B and C, each characterized'by tilesarranged in rows to define parallel surfacing units, and that the tilepassages provide continuous and uninterrupted conduits through andcoextensive with said units. Each section has a supply header common tothe elongated units therein and the common return header coacts with theunits of each section and the supply header thereof in defining aplurality of loop ducts whereby uni- .form circulation of hot airandresultant uniform space heating effect are achieved. The multiple looparrangement providing parallel paths of flow through the sub-floorconduits facilitates circulation of the heated air and reduces thepressure needed to assure proper circulation. In this connection it willbe noted that the main passage 24 of the supply conduit is ofsubstantially larger cross-sectional area than that of the side openings25 and the passages IQ of the distributor tiles l0.

1. In a loop-type circulatory and radiant heating system for buildings,a floor structure'including a plurality of flat topped tiles containingopen-ended hot air passages immediately beneath the tops of the tiles,said tiles being set with their tops flush with each other in parallelrows, with the passages in the tiles in each row in endwisecommunication with each other to define distributing ducts extendinglongitudinally of said respective rows, said ducts being out ofcommunication with one another between the ends thereof,

and supply and return headers for circulating I hot air independentlythrough said respective ducts, each of said headers comprising a singlerow of fiat topped tiles having tops which are of the same shape andsize as the tops of the first mentioned tiles, said second mentionedtiles having open-ended passages and openings in one of the sides ofsaid passages, and being set with their passages in endwisecommunication with each other and with each of the tiles in lateralalignment with one of the rows of-the first mentioned tiles and withtheir side openings in communication with the ends of the ducts in therows, means for heating air and delivering it to said supply header, andmeans for exhausting said return header.

2. In a loop-type circulatory and radiant heating system for buildings,a floor structure including a plurality of flat topped tiles containingopen-ended hot air passages immediately beneath the tops of the tiles,said tiles being set with their tops flush with each other in parallelrows, with the passages in the tiles in each row in endwisecommunication with each other to de-' fine distributing ducts extendinglongitudinally of said respective rows, said ducts being out ofcommunication 'with one another between the ends thereof, and supply andreturn headers for circulating hot air independently through saidrespective ducts, each of said headers comprising a single row. of fiattopped tiles having tops which are of the same shape and size as thetops of the first mentioned tiles. said second mentioned tiles havingopen-ended passages and openings in one of the sides of said passages,and being set with their passages in endwise communication withreachother and with each of the .tiles in lateral alignment with on of therows of the first mentioned tiles andwith their side openings incommunication with the ends of the ducts in the rows, .means for heatingair and delivering it to said supply header, and means for exhaustingsaid return header, the top of all of said tiles constituting thefinished surface of said floor structure.

3. In a multiple loop-type circulatory and radi- 7 ant heating systemfor buildings having a multiple room floor area, means for heating airfor circulation through the system, means defining a large number ofseparate and parallel hot air passages beneath the surface of saidmultiple room fioor area, which passages are arranged in two or moregroups located at different distances from said heating -means, meanscommunicating with said heating means and defining separate supplyheaders for each of said groups, which headers are arranged at rightangles to the passages in the groups and lead to corresponding ends ofthe same from said heating means, and means defining return headers atthe far ends of said passages for returning the spent air to saidheating means, said header defining means being disposed in said floorarea substantially coplanar with said passage defining means andcoacting therewith in affording a load supporting surface.

4. In a radiant heating system for buildings having, a multiple roomfloor area, means for heating air for circulation through the system,means defining a large number of parallel hot air passages beneath thesurface of said multiple room floor area, which passages are arranged intwo or more groups located at different distances fromsaid heatingmeans, means communicating with said heating means and defining separatesupply headers "for each of said groups, which headers are arranged atright angles to the passages in the groups andlead to corresponding.endsof the same from said heating means, and

means defining return headers at the far ends of said passages forreturning the spent air to said heating means, said header definin meansbeing disposed in said floor area substantially coplanar with saidpassage defining means and coacting therewith in afiording a loadsupporting surface, said return headers being connected together inseries.

5. In a loop-type circulatory and radiant heating system for buildings,a floor structureincluding a plurality of fiat topped tiles containingopen-ended hot air passages immediately beneath the tops of the tiles,said tiles being set with their tops fiush with each other in parallelrows, with the passages in the tiles in each row in endwisecommunication with each other to define conduits extendinglongitudinally of said rows, said conduits being separate from and outof communication with one another between the circulating hot airthrough all of the conduits, each of said headers comprising a singlerow of tiles, said second mentioned tiles having openended passages andopenings leading transversely into said passages, and being set withtheir passages in endwise communication with each other and with theirtransverse openings in communication with the respective conduits, meansfor heating air and delivering it to said supply header, and means forexhausting said return header.

6. In a loop-type circulatory and radiant heating system for buildings,means defining a plurality of parallel elongated fioor surface unitshaving upper load-supporting surfaces disposed in coplanar relation,said units being provided with internal passages extendinglongitudinally thereof and disposed immediately beneath theload-supporting surface for radiation of heat to the space thereabove,said passages being separate from and unconnected with one anotherintermediate the length thereof, means defining a hollow supply headerin separate andindepend ent internal communication with the passages ofa plurality of said units to supply the same independently, said headerhaving a load-supporting surface coplanar with that of the units, andmeans defining a hollow return header, said return header beingseparately communicated with said passages in spaced relation to thesupply header for the return of gas circulated from said supply headerto and through said units, said header being provided with aload-supporting surface coplanar with said other surfaces, a source ofhot gas connected to deliver to the supply'header, and means receivingreturnedgas from said return header.

'7. In a loop-type circulatory and radiant heating system for buildings,means defining a plurality of parallel elongated floor surface units,each comprising aligned hollow tiles having upper load-supportingsurfaces disposed in coplanar relation, said units being provided withinternal passages extending longitudinally thereof and disposedimmediately beneath the load-supporting surface for radiation of heat tothe space thereabove, said passages being separate from and unconnectedwith one another intermediate the length thereof, means defining each ofa hollow supply header, said header being disposed in intersectingrelation to said units, with the header in separate internalcommunication with the passages of a plurality of said units to supplythe same independently, said header having a loadsupporting surfacecoplanar with that of the units, and means defining a hollow returnheader, said return header being separatelycommunicated with saidpassages in spaced relation to the supply header for the return of gascirculated from said supply header to and through said units, saidheaderbein provided with a loadsupporting surface coplanarwith saidother surfaces andcoacting therewith in defining a fioor area, a sourceof hot gas connected to deliver to the supply header, and meansreceiving returned gas from said return header.

ing system for buildings, means defining a plurality of parallelelongated floor surface units having upper load-supporting surfacesdisposed in coplanar relation, said units being provided with internalpassages extending longitudinally thereof and disposed immediatelybeneath said load-supporting surface for radiation of .heat to aratefromand unconnected with one another intermediate the length'thereof,means defining a hollow horizontal supply header, said header beingdisposed in intersecting relation to said units, with the header inseparate and, independent internal communication with the passages ofeach of a. plurality of said units to supply the same independently,said header having a loadsupporting surface coplanar with that of theunits, and means defining a hollow horizontal return header, said returnheader being separately communicated with said passages in spacedrelation to the supply header and being provided with a load-supportingsurface coplanar with said other surfaces and coacting therewith indefining a floor area.

9. In a radiant heating and circulatory system comprising a plurality ofrows of aligned tiles, each row defining an elongated floor surfaceunit, said tiles being provided with aligned internal passages incontinuous and uninterrupted communication with one anotherlongitudinally of the respective units to provide separate internalconduits through said units which are out of communication with oneanother between the ends of said respective units, means defining ahollow fluid supply header, said header being in separate internalcommunication with the conduits of each of a plurality of units forindependent fiow of volumes of fluid through the respective units, andmeans defining a hollow return header, said return header beingseparately communicated with each of said respective conduits at pointsspaced from the supply header for the return of fluid circulated fromsaid supply header to and through said separate units.

10. In a radiant heating and circulatory systern comprising a pluralityof rows of aligned tiles,

each row defining an elongated floor surface unit,

said tiles having upper load-supporting surfaces disposed in coplanarrelation in said units and being provided with .aligned internalpassages in continuous and uninterrupted communication with one anotherlongitudinally of the respective units to provide separate internalconduits through said units which are out of communication with oneanother between the ends of said respective units, said passages beingdisposed immediately beneath the load-supporting surface of the tilesfor radiation of heat to the spacethereabove, means defining a hollowfluid supply header, said header being in separate internalcommunication with the conduits of each of a plurality of units forindependent fiow of volumes of fluid through the respective units, saidheader having a load-supporting surface coplanar with that of saidunits, and means defining a hollow return header, said return headerbeing separately communicated with each of said respective conduits atpoints spaced from the supply header for the return of fluid circulatedfrom said supply headerto and through said separate units, said returnheader being provided with a loadsupporting surface coplanar with saidother surfaces.

11. In a radiant heating and circulatory system comprising a pluralityof rows of aligned tiles, each row defining an elongated fioor surfaceunit, said tiles having upper load-supporting surfaces disposed incoplanar relation in said units and being provided with aligned internalpassages in continuous and uninterrupted communication with one anotherlongitudinally of the respective units to provide separate internalconduits the space thereabove, said passages being septhrough said unitswhich are out of communication with one another between the ends of saidrespective units, said passages being disposed immediately beneath theload-supporting surface of the tiles for radiation of heat to the spacethereabove, means defining a hollow fluid supply header, said headerbeing in separate internal conimunication with the conduits of each of aplurality of units for independent flow of volumes of fluid through therespective units, said header being of substantially largercross-sectionalv area than said conduits and having a load-supportingsurface coplanar with that of said units, and means defining a hollowreturn header, said return header being separately communicated witheach of said respective conduits at points spaced from the supply headerfor the return of fluid circulated from said supply header to andthrough said separate units, said return header being provided with aload-supporting surface coplanar with said other surfaces.

12. A radiant heating circulatory system comprising a plurality of rowsof aligned tiles, each row defining an elongated floor surface 'unit,said tiles having upper load-supporting surfaces disposed in coplanarrelation in said units and being provided with aligned internal passagesin continuous and uninterrupted communication with one anotherlongitudinally of the respective units to provide separate internalconduits through said units which are out of communication with oneanother between the ends of said respective units, means defining ahollow fluid supply header, said header being in separate internalcommunication with the conduits of each of a plurality of units forindependent flow of volumes of fluid through the respective units, said10 header having a load-supporting surface coplanar with that of saidunits, means defining a hollow return header, said return header beingseparately communicated with each of said respective conduits at pointsspaced from the supply header for the return of fluid circulated fromsaid supply header to and through said separate units, said returnheader being provided with a load-supporting surface coplanar with saidother surfaces, a source of heated fluid connected to and delivering tothe supply header, and means receiving returned fluid from said returnheader.

GEORGE F. KECK.

' file of this patent:

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